Residents and staff flag park maintenance needs as committee budgets for splash‑pad design and grant writing

The budget committee reviewed parks‑fund items for fiscal 2025–26, including proposed contracted services to support engineering and grant applications for a possible Chuck Roberts Park splash pad and public comments characterizing maintenance needs at Upper Roberts Park.

Finance Director Tessa DeLine told the committee she plans to add $35,000–$46,000 in contracted personnel for temporary help and grant writing tied to a consolidated Chuck Roberts Park improvement project so the city can pursue an Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) grant and design work: “This budget now reflects engineering for, figuring out what the right solution for conservation for the splash pad is and also some contracted services to support that grant application to OPRD.”

Public comment highlighted maintenance concerns. Susan Fizzo, a Talent resident, said she had walked the park with past staff and neighbors and called current maintenance “inadequate,” asking for a documented long‑term maintenance plan: “I believe there's inadequate maintenance in the Upper Roberts Park,” she said, urging clearer staffing or contractual commitments so future public‑works turnovers do not interrupt care.

Committee members also discussed Harvest Festival accounting after Talent Business Alliance representative Darby Ayers Flood described the organization’s one‑year arrangement to run the 2024 event. Ayers Flood said the alliance submitted two proposals: one in which the alliance would collect vendor and sponsor revenue and pay expenses (a net‑zero option for the city), and a second in which the alliance accepted a fixed fee and collected vendor fees only. “Our proposals were based on net 0 proposals, so at no cost to the city,” she said, and confirmed the alliance will not operate the festival this year.

DeLine and committee members noted parks utility fees and fund balance are declining and said staff will revisit the parks fee and coordinate with the parks commission on priorities. Staff will bring a revised budget with the added contracted services and the CIP transfer request for council consideration.